1. Depersonalize It
The rule for any listing applies to the luxe ones, too. Says Jim Bell of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty: “You’re selling a house to someone else, not yourself”—so no family photos.
2. Stage in Beige
Everything from the paint to the couch should be neutral and tasteful.
3. Put a Piano on the Second Floor
Showcase the house’s historical architecture. In Kalorama, a common style is piano nobile, Italian for “noble floor,” usually the second level, where a piano sits—so there’d better be one up there.
4. Join the Luxury Alliance
The Luxury Alliance is a global network of multimillion-dollar properties, explains Long & Foster’s Wendy Banner, that gives Washington houses exposure to rich overseas buyers.
5. Don’t Throw a Party
Forget what you’ve seen on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing. People with money tend to value discretion, not flash. “The big ones are the ones you don’t hear about until they happen,” says Bell.
This article appears in the April 2017 issue of Washingtonian.
Kim Olsen ([email protected]) is a freelance writer in Alexandria.
